Looking back fondly on a great ride with a best friend

For the past 11 days, my wife and I have been on an emotionally draining roller coaster because our 12-year-old labradoodle, Monte, is sick. What began as a few bouts of vomiting by Monte for no apparent reason reached a crescendo in the wee hours on Jan. 17. Monte had regurgitated in more than eight different areas of his bedroom.

The feature ride at this venerable amusement park was the Coaster, a one-minute-or-so thrill ride with a slow, tantalizing ascent to a height where nearby mountains could be seen briefly by riders. That was followed by a rapid descent into a valley of side-wrenching twists and turns punctuated by more dips and sudden rises until the coupled cars came to a screeching halt, ending the adventure.

Roller coasters, just as lives, have their ups and downs.

For the past 11 days, my wife and I have been on an emotionally draining roller coaster because our 12-year-old labradoodle, Monte, is sick. What began as a few bouts of vomiting by Monte for no apparent reason reached a crescendo in the wee hours on Jan. 17. Monte had regurgitated in more than eight different areas of his bedroom.

We have no children so our pets — we have a cat and a horse — are our four-legged kids.

Fearing that his stomach may have twisted, thus obstructing his digestive track, we called the Coastal Veterinary Emergency office in Jacksonville and said we were coming. A quick examination and subsequent X-ray showed no signs of the stomach twisting but an area on the film caused the doctor some concern.

We returned home and waited a few hours for our local animal hospital to open. When it did, the staff saw us immediately and reviewed the notes made by the emergency vet a few hours earlier. They strongly suggested we get Monte to a specialist, recommending Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas in Cary.

We left immediately and began our journey to Wake County. Monte would spend the next 30 hours under the care of doctors, nurses and clinicians who tested his blood, examined his vital organs and even removed seven teeth. Because so many teeth were removed, the doctors inserted a temporary feeding tube into his neck.

We had many consultations with staff members as they checked off areas of concern. Our emotions ran the gamut of hope and elation to fear and trepidation. As potentially good news was proffered, it was quickly tempered with disturbing bad news.

Narrowing in on the root causes of his ailment, everything was eliminated except for his stomach. He was given an endoscope, which allowed doctors to see inside his stomach. There, they saw a thickening of the walls. Tissue samples were taken and sent to a New York lab for analysis. It would take days to learn the results.

So at 9 p.m. the following Friday, we headed back to Swansboro. We were relieved and happy that we were coming home with Monte, but kept our emotions at bay until we got word of the biopsy last Monday. It was positive.

Page 2 of 2 - We were devastated. I appealed the verdict and requested a second opinion. The biopsy slides were sent to N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine. We expect an answer sometime this week. For those who believe in the power of prayer and put Monte in their thoughts, I thank you and am forever grateful.

Meanwhile, we are left with many choices to ensure Monte lives whatever time he has left in relative comfort. For me, the pain is excruciating and I know my wife’s cheerful and caring demeanor honed over more than 34 years as a registered nurse belies the hurt she feels inside.

Why do humans bring animals into their lives as family pets knowing that we hold all the cards as to when to end their lives? The answer is simple; and for those readers who have or have had pets, I think you’ll agree. Our pets bring us so much joy and companionship every day they are with us and ask for nothing more than the basic needs of life: food, water, shelter and tender, loving care. They give us their unconditional love.

Monte is still fighting his disease, and we cherish his remaining time with us whether by watching him sleep in his many places around the house or walking along side me as I go up the driveway to get the paper and mail.

As we discharged Monte from the Cary facility, I noticed a sign sitting on a table in the lobby. It read: “While there are many different roads that we take in life, it is those who walk with us that make the journey worthwhile.”

How true. Our ride together will someday end, but nobody can say with certitude when that will be. So I will cherish every moment we have together as I have in the past and continue to create more fond memories of us as we journey through life together. I love you, Monte.

Swansboro resident Mike McHugh is an advertising account executive with The Daily News. Readers can email him at: mike.mchugh@jdnews.com.